Electronic device

ABSTRACT

An electronic device and method for displaying a display item is disclosed. A first pattern comprises an image at a first image size and a character string at a first character string size. A second pattern comprises the image at a second image size and the character string at a second character string size, the character string not overlapping the image at the second image size. The second image size is larger than the first image size, and the second character string size is larger than the first character string size. A selected size comprises at least a first size and a second size. The first pattern is displayed for the display item if the selected size is the first size, and the second pattern is displayed for the display item if the selected size is the second size.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to JapanesePatent Application No. 2009-204702, filed on Sep. 4, 2009, entitled“ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM”. The content ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to electronicdevices, and more particularly relate to an electronic device comprisinga display operable to display a menu screen.

BACKGROUND

In current mobile electronic devices, a menu screen with a normal sizeis displayed on a display when a normal character size, boldness or fontstyle is selected. In the menu screen, icons are displayed in a gridalignment comprising an image and a character string that represent thecontent of each item represented by the icon. When a larger font size isselected or set, a menu screen with an enlarged size is displayed. Inthe enlarged menu screen, the character strings may be presented in alist with only the character strings displayed, and the normal size iconimages may not be displayed.

In a multifunctional electronic device such as a mobile phone, arelatively large number of icons are displayed, and the size of eachicon is relatively small. For this reason, a number of characters in acharacter string drawn in an icon is limited. Therefore, adjustments aregenerally made to the character string to allow a user to understand thecontent of each item based on both an image and a character string. Inaddition, when the font is set to a large size, the character stringthat is used when the small size font is set is simply enlarged;therefore, if the corresponding image is not displayed, it may bedifficult to understand the content of each item in one glance.

SUMMARY

An apparatus and method for displaying a display item is disclosed. Afirst pattern comprises an image at a first image size and a characterstring at a first character string size. A second pattern comprises theimage at a second image size and the character string at a secondcharacter string size, the second character string does not overlap theimage at the second image size. The second image size is larger than thefirst image size, and the second character string size is larger thanthe first character string size. A selected size comprises at least afirst size and a second size. The first pattern is displayed to presentthe display item if the first size is selected, and the second patternis displayed to present the display item if the second size is selected.

In a first embodiment, an electronic device comprises a storage moduleoperable to store an image and a character string representing contentof a predetermined item. The electronic device further comprises a sizeselection module operable to select a selected size from at least afirst size and a second size. The electronic device also comprises adisplay control module operable to set a display pattern to a firstpattern comprising the image at a first image size and the characterstring at a first character string size if the selected size is thefirst size. The display control module is further operable to set thedisplay pattern to a second pattern comprising the image at a secondimage size and the character string at a second character string size ifthe selected size is the second size. The second image size is largerthan the first image size and the second character string size is largerthan the first character string size. The electronic device alsocomprises a display operable to display the display pattern, the secondpattern is displayed with the image on a first display area of thedisplay and the character string on a second display area of the displaydifferent from the first display area if the selected size is the secondsize.

In a second embodiment, a method for operating an electronic devicecomprises providing a first pattern comprising an image at a first imagesize and a character string at a first character string size. The methodfurther comprises providing a second pattern comprising the image at asecond image size and the character string at a second character stringsize. The character string not overlapping the image at the second imagesize. The method also comprises receiving a size selection for a displayitem. The second image size is larger than the first image size, and thesecond character string size is larger than the first character stringsize. The method also comprises displaying the first pattern if the sizeselection is a first size, and displaying the second pattern if the sizeselection is a second size.

In a third embodiment, a computer readable medium comprising programcode for operating an electronic device. The program code comprisesproviding a first pattern comprising an image at a first image size anda character string at a first character string size. The program codefurther comprises providing a second pattern comprising the image at asecond image size and the character string at a second character stringsize, the character string not overlapping the image at the second imagesize. The program code also comprises receiving a size selection for adisplay item. The second image size is larger than the first image sizeand the second character string size is larger than the first characterstring size. The program code also comprises displaying the firstpattern if the size selection is a first size, and displaying the secondpattern if the size selection is a second size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are hereinafter described inconjunction with the following figures, wherein like numerals denotelike elements. The figures are provided for illustration and depictexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The figures areprovided to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure withoutlimiting the breadth, scope, scale, or applicability of the presentdisclosure. The drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a schematic functional block diagram of amobile phone according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an external view of a mobile phoneaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are illustrations of exemplary normal menu screens, eachdisplaying on a display monitor of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are illustrations of schematic diagrams showing anexemplary normal background image comprising a normal menu screen shownin FIG. 3A to 3C as well as normal icons in a normal background imageaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary normal focus images (normalfocus icons) comprising the normal menu screen shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary focus management tableaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are illustrations of schematic diagrams showing drawingpositions of normal focus icons according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an exemplary drawing table of the normalfocus icons according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are illustrations of an exemplary enlarged menu screendisplayed on the display monitor of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are illustrations of schematic diagrams showing anexemplary enlarged background image comprising the enlarged menu screenshown in FIG. 9 as well as enlarged icons and display areas comprised inthe enlarged background image.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of an exemplary enlarged focus images(enlarged focus icons) composing the enlarged menu screen shown in FIG.9.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are illustrations of exemplary schematic diagramsshowing a case in which a certain character string displayed in adisplay area of the enlarged menu screen shown in FIG. 9 is drawn withtext, and a case in which the character string is drawn with an image.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an exemplary drawing table of the enlargedfocus icons according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of an exemplary memory map of a ROM shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is an illustration of an exemplary memory map of a RAM shown inFIG. 1 when an enlarged size is selected.

FIGS. 16-19 are illustrations of various parts of an exemplary flowdiagram showing a grid-menu display-control process of a CPU shown inFIG. 1.

FIGS. 20-21 are illustrations of an exemplary flow diagram showingvarious parts of the grid-menu display-control process of the CPUaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable a person of ordinaryskill in the art to make and use the embodiments of the disclosure. Thefollowing detailed description is exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the disclosure or the application and uses of theembodiments of the disclosure. Descriptions of specific devices,techniques, and applications are provided only as examples.Modifications to the examples described herein will be readily apparentto those of ordinary skill in the art, and the general principlesdefined herein may be applied to other examples and applications withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Furthermore,there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theorypresented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary orthe following detailed description. The present disclosure should beaccorded scope consistent with the claims, and not limited to theexamples described and shown herein.

Embodiments of the disclosure are described herein in the context of onepractical non-limiting application, namely, an information processingdevice such as a mobile phone. Embodiments of the disclosure, however,are not limited to such mobile phone, and the techniques describedherein may also be utilized in other applications. For example,embodiments may be applicable to digital books, digital cameras,electronic game machines, digital music players, personal digitalassistance (PDA), ATM, personal handy phone system (PHS), lap topcomputers, TV's, GPS's or navigation systems, machining tools,pedometers, health equipments such as weight scales, display monitors,and the like.

As would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after readingthis description, these are merely examples and the embodiments of thedisclosure are not limited to operating in accordance with theseexamples. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a schematic functional block diagram of amobile phone 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The mobilephone 10 comprises a control processing unit (CPU) 12, a random accessmemory (RAM) 14, a read only memory (ROM) 16, a flash memory 18, a keyinput device 20, an LCD driver 22, an A/D converter 24, a D/A converter26, a wireless communication module 28, and a clock circuit 38 connectedvia a bus (not shown). In addition, an LCD monitor 30 is coupled to theLCD driver 22, a microphone 32 is coupled to the A/D converter 24, and aspeaker 34 is coupled to the D/A converter 26 via an amplifier (notshown). An antenna 36 is coupled to the wireless communication module28.

The CPU 12 manages the overall control of the mobile phone 10. The RAM14 is utilized as a working area (including a drawing area) or a bufferarea of the CPU 12. The ROM 16 is, for example but without limitation,an electrically rewritable memory such as an EEPROM and stores variousprograms that are executed by the CPU 12 as well as various data thatare utilized by these programs. The flash memory 18 records data of theuser of the mobile phone 10, such as but without limitation, a profile,an address book, and a schedule book, and the like. The flash memory 18also records content data, such as but without limitation, characters,images, voices, sounds, and videos, and the like.

The key input device 20 comprises a plurality of keys such as dialingkeys 20 a (FIG. 2), which comprises the keys “0” to “9”, a “*” key, anda “#” key, and information regarding keys operated by the user (keydata) is input to the CPU 12. The LCD driver 22 controls the display ofthe LCD monitor 30, which is coupled to the LCD driver 22, based oninstructions from the CPU 12.

The A/D converter 24 converts an analog voice signal of a voice or asound input through the microphone 32 coupled to the A/D converter 24into a digital signal. The D/A converter 26 converts (decodes) thedigital voice signal into an analog voice signal and provides the signalto the speaker 34 via an amplifier. Therefore, the voice or the soundcorresponding to the analog voice signal is output from the speaker 34.

The wireless communication module 28 performs radio communication using,for example but without limitation, a Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA) protocol. For example, when the user issues an instruction for acall request using the key input device 20, the wireless communicationmodule 28 performs a call request operation based on instructions fromthe CPU 12 and outputs a call request signal via the antenna 36. Thecall request signal is transmitted to another party's phone via a basestation and a communication network (not shown). Then, when a callreception operation is performed, a connected state (communicable state)is established, and the CPU 12 executes a call process (hereinafterreferred to as “normal call process”).

Specifically, in the normal call process, a modulated voice signal(high-frequency signal) that is transmitted by the other party's phoneis received by the antenna 36. The received modulated voice signal isdemodulated and decoded by the wireless communication module 28. Thereceived voice signal that is acquired by these processes is convertedinto an analog voice signal by the D/A converter 26 and then output fromthe speaker 34. On the other hand, the transmitted voice signal capturedthrough the microphone 32 is converted into a digital voice signal bythe A/D converter 24 and then sent to the CPU 12. The transmitted voicesignal that is converted into a digital voice signal is coded andmodulated by the wireless communication module 28 based on instructionsfrom the CPU 12 and output via the antenna 36. Therefore, the modulatedvoice signal is transmitted to the other party's phone via the basestation and the communications network.

When a call request signal from the other party's phone is received bythe antenna 36, the wireless communication module 28 notifies the CPU 12of an incoming call (call reception). In response to this incomingnotification, the CPU 12 controls the LCD driver 22 to displayinformation on the source of the call (phone number, name of caller, orboth), which is described in the incoming notification, on the LCDmonitor 30. In addition, the CPU 12 outputs an incoming call tone (or anincoming melody or incoming call voice) from a speaker (not shown) forthe incoming notification at substantially a same time. When the userissues an instruction for call reception using the key input device 20,the wireless communication module 28 executes the call receptionoperation based on instructions from the CPU 12, a connected state(communicable state) is established, and the CPU 12 executes the normalcall process.

The CPU 12 acquires at least a current time from the clock circuit 38,which is a real time clock (RTC), or the like. For example, the CPU 12controls the LCD driver 22 as described above to display the currenttime on the LCD monitor 30 (clock display).

FIG. 2 is an external view of the mobile phone 10 shown in FIG. 1. Themobile phone 10 comprises a case (housing) 40 formed into a plate. TheLCD monitor 30 (FIG. 1) is installed in the case 40 with its displaysurface 31 exposed. The display surface 31 of the LCD monitor 30 has asize that substantially occupies an upper half of the case 40. Inaddition, the key input device 20 is arranged in a lower side of the LCDmonitor 30 so that the pressing parts (operating parts) of each key areexposed from the case 40. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the keyinput device 20 comprises dialing keys 20 a, a call request key 20 b, acall termination key 20 c, a clear/memo key 20 d, a center key 20 e, anupward key 20 f, a leftward key 20 g, a downward key 20 h, and arightward key 20 i.

The arrangement and design of each of the keys 20 a through 20 i neednot be limited to the content shown in FIG. 2 and may be configured inan arbitrary manner. In addition, the number of keys may beappropriately increased or decreased depending on the functions of themobile phone 20.

The antenna 36 is provided to the case 40 so that part of the antennaprotrudes from the upper end part of the case. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 2, a hole 42 a and a hole 42 b are provided on the case 40 at theupper and lower parts and on the surface on the side where the displaysurface of the LCD monitor 30 and the pressing parts of the key inputdevice 20 are provided. The speaker 34 (not shown in FIG. 2) is providedinside the case 40 at a position corresponding to the position where thehole 42 a is provided. The microphone 32 (not shown in FIG. 2) is alsoprovided inside the case 40 at a position corresponding to the positionwhere the hole 42 b is provided. Therefore, the user can hear a voice(sound) output from the speaker 34 and can input user's speech (callorigination) into the microphone 32.

In this manner, predetermined functions of the mobile phone 10 can beset or edited (changed, modified, deleted, etc.). For example, in FIG.3A, a normal menu screen 50 for selecting an execution of settings aswell as editing of various functions is displayed on the LCD monitor 30.In the normal menu screen 50, the size of an image and a characterstring is small compared to that of an enlarged menu screen 80 asdescribed below in the context of discussion of FIGS. 9A and 9B. In anembodiment, two kinds of display sizes are selected; a smaller displaysize referred to as the “normal size”, and a larger size displayreferred to as the “enlarged size”.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are illustrations of exemplary normal menu screens, eachdisplayed on the display monitor 30 of the mobile phone 10. In FIGS. 3Aand 3B, although images representing a content of each of the icons(items) are shown with simple graphics and patterns, in practice, images(graphics symbols, illustrations, etc.) representing some functions(contents) are drawn (displayed). Similarly, although character stringsrepresenting the content of each of the icons are shown usingappropriate hiragana and alphabetic characters and numbers, in practice,character strings representing the contents are drawn (displayed). Theembodiment shown in FIG. 3C, comprises soft keys that can be used forinput.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are illustrations of schematic diagrams showing anexemplary normal background image composing the normal menu screen shownin FIG. 3 as well as normal icons comprised in the normal backgroundimage. The normal menu screen 50 comprises a background image (normalbackground image) 50 a drawn with a normal size comprising a pluralityof icons 500, 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514, 516, 518, 520 and 522as shown in FIG. 4B. However, the normal background image 50 a is asingle image. A “normal icons” 500 through 522 are displayed in areticular pattern (grid display). In addition, each of the normal icons500 through 522 is managed identifiably. For example, numbers from “0”to “11” are assigned sequentially from the upper left normal icon 500 asidentification information (ID number). In FIG. 4B, for ease ofexplanation, the patterns (images and character strings) and thebackground (background color) of the normal icons 500 through 522 arenot shown.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in the normal menu screen 50,a selected (instructed) normal icon (any one of 500 through 522 icons)is highlighted and displayed (focused and displayed). Hereinafter, inthis document when the reference numbers of the normal icons 500 through522, normal focus icons 550 through 572, enlarged icons 800 through 822,and enlarged focus icons 850 through 872 are shown in brackets, it meansthat it is one of the icons.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary normal focus images (normalfocus icons) comprising the normal menu screen 50 shown in FIG. 3. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 5, in response to selecting each of thenormal icons 500 through 522, the normal focus icons 550, 552, 554, 556,558, 560, 562, 564, 566, 568, 570 and 572 for focusing and displayingthem are provided in advance. However, the normal focus icons 550through 572 may be collectively referred to as a “normal focus image 50b”. The normal focus icons 550 through 572 are icons in which thedisplay form of the corresponding normal icons 500 through 522 ischanged. Specifically, the size of the normal focus icons 550 through572 is enlarged compared to the size of the normal icons 500 through 522and the size of a pattern (an image and a character string) drawn on anicon is also enlarged. In addition, white and black are reversed betweenthe normal focus icons 550 through 572 and the normal icons 500 through522.

The normal icons 500 through 522 and the normal focus icons 550 through572 may be any color, such as but without limitation, monochrome, grayscale, multiple colors, and the like. When multiple colors are used, thecolor between the enlarged focus icons 550 through 572 and the normalicons 500 through 522 may be reversed. In addition, brightness and/oractual color of the enlarged focus icons 550 through 572 may be changed.Because the normal focus icons 550 through 572 are required to be morehighlighted than the normal icons 500 through 522, the normal focusicons 550 through 572 are not limited to the form shown in theembodiment shown in FIG. 5, and other forms may be used.

Therefore, in the normal menu screen 50 shown in FIG. 3A, the normalicon 508 identified by “4” is selected, and the normal focus icon 558corresponding to the normal icon 508 is being displayed on the normalbackground image 50 a at a predetermined position. In addition, in thenormal menu screen 50 shown in FIG. 3B, the normal icon 510 identifiedwith “5” is selected, and the normal focus icon 560 corresponding to thenormal icon 510 is being displayed on the normal background image 50 aat a predetermined position.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary focus management table 60according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 6, the normal icon 500 through 522 selected (instructed) by theuser can be changed by pressing/activating the upward direction key 20f, the leftward key 20 g, the downward key 20 h or the rightward key 20i. However, this change is performed in accordance with predeterminedrules shown in the focus management table 60. As shown in the focusmanagement table 60, four identification numbers are described inaccordance with the identification number of the currently selectednormal icon 500 through 522. The leftmost identification number of thefour identification numbers is the identification number of the normalicon 500 through 522 selected by changing from the currently selectednormal icon 500 through 522 when the downward key 20 h is operated. Inaddition, the second identification number from the left of the fouridentification numbers is the identification number of the normal icon500 through 522 selected by changing from the currently selected normalicon 500 through 522 when the upward key 20 f is operated. Furthermore,the third identification number from the left of the four identificationnumbers is the identification number of the normal icon 500 through 522selected by changing from the currently selected normal icon 500 through522 when the upward key 20 g is operated. Then, the rightmostidentification number of the four identification numbers is theidentification number of the normal icon 500 through 522 selected bychanging from the currently selected normal icon 500 through 522 whenthe rightward key 20 i is operated.

Therefore, for example, when the normal icon 510 is currently selected,its identification number is “5”, and when the leftward key 20 g isoperated in this case, the normal icon 508 with the identificationnumber “4” is selected. In addition, when the normal icon 522 iscurrently selected, its identification number is “11”, and when thedownward key 20 h is operated in this case, the normal icon 500 with theidentification number “0” is selected. In an embodiment, the normal icon500 through 522 to be selected is similarly changed in accordance withthe focus management table 60.

In this manner, when the normal icon 500 through 522 to be selected ischanged and the icon 500 through 522 to be selected is focused anddisplayed, a corresponding normal focus icon 550 through 572 is drawn(attached) on the normal background image 50 a at a predeterminedposition as described above. In this manner, the normal focus icon 550through 572 is drawn on a front (upper layer) of a corresponding normalicon 500 through 522. However, as described above, because the normalfocus icons 550 through 572 are set to a larger size compared to thesize of the normal icons 500 through 522, the position for drawing(drawing position) is set in advance so as not to protrude from thenormal background image 50 a (i.e., the display surface of the LCDmonitor 30). In an embodiment, when the upper left corner of the normalbackground image 50 a is a reference point (origin O), a rightwarddistance (X) and a downward distance (Y) from the origin O to the upperleft corner of each of the focus icons 550 through 572 is set in advanceas a drawing position (drawing coordinates).

FIGS. 7A and 7B are illustrations of schematic diagrams showing drawingpositions of normal-focus icons according to an embodiment of thedisclosure. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the drawing position ofthe normal focus icon 558 of the normal icon 508 with the identificationnumber “4” is, as shown in FIG. 7A, aligned with the correspondingnormal icon 508 at the center position in the horizontal direction andits upper side is set to a position overlapping with the upper side ofthe normal icon 508. In this manner, the drawing position (X4, Y4) ofthe normal focus icon 558 corresponding to the normal icon 508 with theidentification number “4” is set.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3B, the drawing position of the normal focusicon 560 of the normal icon 510 with the identification number “5” is,as shown in FIG. 7B, aligned with the corresponding normal icon 510 atthe left side and its upper side is set to a position overlapping withthe upper side of the normal icon 510. In this manner, the drawingposition (X5, Y5) of the normal focus icon 560 corresponding to thenormal icon 510 with the identification number “5” is set.

However, although it is not shown in the drawings, the same also appliesfor the drawing position of the other normal focus icon (550 through556, 562 through 527). The drawing positions (Xn, Yn) (n=0, 1, . . . ,11) of the normal icons 550 through 572 are on the corresponding normalicons 500 through 522 and, as described above, are set to the positionsat which the icons are displayed without protruding from the normalbackground image 50 a (i.e., the display surface of the LCD monitor 30).n is added for identifying the drawing positions (X, Y) of the normalfocus icons 550 through 572, the addresses of the ROM 16 (Adr) in whicheach item of image data is stored, and their horizontal length (W) andlongitudinal length (H).

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an exemplary drawing table of thenormal-focus icons according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Anormal-focus icon-drawing table 70 is used for drawing the normal focusicon 550 through 572 corresponding to the selected normal icon 500through 522 on the normal background image 50 a. As shown FIG. 8, inresponse to the identification information of the currently selectednormal focus icon 500 through 522, the drawing positions (Xn, Yn) of thenormal focus icons 550 through 572 and the normal focus icon informationare described in the normal-focus icon-drawing table 70.

The drawing positions (Xn, Yn) of the focus icons 550 through 572 arethe same as described above, therefore common features, functions, andelements may not be redundantly described here. The normal focus iconinformation describes the address of the ROM 16 (Adrn) in which data(image data) regarding the relative normal focus icon (550 through 572)are stored and the horizontal length (Wn) and longitudinal length (Hn)of the relative normal focus icon (550 through 572).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, because the normal focus icons 550through 572 have the same size and shape and are attached on the normalbackground image 50 a, the lateral length (Wn) and the longitudinallength (Hn) can be omitted.

For example, when the user issues an instruction for displaying a menuin a state in which the normal size is set, the normal menu screen 50 isdisplayed on the LCD monitor 30 in a state in which the normal icon 508with the identification number “4” is focused as shown in FIG. 3A.However, when the normal menu screen 50 is displayed first, the normalicon 508 with the identification number “4” is selected due to thedefault settings. Therefore, the image data that is described in theaddress (Adr4) described in the information of the normal focus icon 508is read out from the ROM 16 and attached on the background image 50 a atthe drawing position (X4, Y4) described in correspondence to theidentification number “4” of the normal icon 508 that is currentlyselected in the normal-focus icon-drawing table 70. However, the imagedata of the normal background image 50 a is read earlier than the imagedata of the normal focus icon 508 and is already drawn on a drawing areaof a RAM 14 (not shown). In addition, the normal icon (500 through 522),or the identification number “n”, to be set as a default may be anotheridentification number.

When the user operates the upward key 20 f, the leftward key 20 g, thedownward key 20 h, or the rightward key 20 i, the normal icon (500through 522) to be selected is changed in accordance with the focusmanagement table 60. Then, the normal focus icon 550 through 572 isdisplayed (changed) in accordance with the normal-focus icon-drawingtable 70 as described above. That is, the normal menu screen 50 isupdated. Then, for example, the user operates the center key 20 e, andalthough it is not shown in the drawings, a screen for setting orediting the functions corresponding to the currently selected normalicon (500 through 522) is displayed.

In an embodiment, three or more display sizes are selected. In thismanner, background images, icons, and focus icons for each display size,and create-focus icon-drawing tables for each display size are createdrespectively.

In the above embodiments icons are displayed in a grid menu, however,the icons may be displayed, for example but without limitation, in alist, or the like, as long as the content of the icon is expressed, forexample but without limitation, by a button image, or the like, with animage and a character string. The character string may be in anylanguage, such as but without limitation, English, Japanese, Spanish,and the like. In an embodiment, each of the languages may be provided asselectable options. In this manner, normal-focus icon-drawing table 70and enlarged-focus icon-drawing table 90 (FIG. 13) corresponding to eachof the languages are stored in a ROM, and a table corresponding to a set(selected) language is used.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are illustrations of an exemplary enlarged menu screen80 displaying on the LCD monitor 30 when the enlarged size is setaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure as described in more detailin conjunction with FIGS. 10A-10B below. Embodiments shown in FIGS. 9Aand 9B may have functions, material, and structures that are similar tothe embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-8. Therefore common features,functions, and elements may not be redundantly described here.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are illustrations of schematic diagrams showing anexemplary enlarged background image composing the enlarged menu screenshown in FIG. 9 as well as enlarged icons and display areas included inthe enlarged background image. The enlarged menu screen 80 comprises abackground image (enlarged background image) 80 a drawn with an enlargedsize as shown in FIG. 10A. The enlarged menu screen 80 a comprises aplurality of enlarged icons 800, 802, 804, 806, 808, 810, 812, 814, 816,818, 820 and 822 and a display area 830 as shown in FIG. 10B.

In FIG. 10B, in order to show the enlarged icons 800 through 822 and thedisplay area 830 in a manner easy to understand, patterns (only imagesin this example) and the background (background color) are not shown.

The enlarged icons 800 through 822 are made identifiable by theiridentification numbers is the same as in the case of the normal icons500 through 522, and therefore, the same identification numbers areassigned to icons of the same kind (same functions).

As can be seen by comparing FIG. 4B to FIG. 10B an array (arrangement)of the normal icons 500 through 522 is the same as the array(arrangement) of the enlarged icons 800 through 822. That is, thealignment sequence of the enlarged icons 800 through 822 is set to analignment sequence corresponding to the alignment sequence of the normalicons 500 through 522.

As shown in FIGS. 9A-9B, and FIG. 10A, the enlarged icons 800 through822 are icons in which images from the patterns of the normal icons 500through 522 are enlarged. However, because the normal background image50 a and the enlarged background image 80 a are the same size and theenlarged background image 80 a is provided with the display area 830,the longitudinal length of the enlarged icons 800 through 822 is set tobe shorter than the longitudinal length of the normal icons 500 through522. In addition, a pattern with an image is displayed on the enlargedicons 800 through 822. This is made for displaying as large an image anda character string as possible on a predetermined display area (displaysurface of the LCD monitor 30). Furthermore, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 10B, the images drawn on the enlarged icons 800 through 822 areenlarged with the same aspect ratio as the aspect ratio of the imagesdrawn on the normal icons 500 through 522. Longitudinal and/or lateralratios may be enlarged with a different aspect ratio. In either case,the image can be enlarged by a simple technique.

As shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, in the enlarged menu screen 80, aselected (instructed) enlarged icon (800 through 822) is focused anddisplayed in the same manner as in the normal menu screen 50. In anembodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, in response to each of the enlargedicons 800 through 822, the enlarged focus icons 850, 852, 854, 856, 858,860, 862, 864, 866, 868, 870 and 872 for focusing and display areprovided in advance. However, the enlarged focus icons 850 through 872may be collectively referred to as an “enlarged focus image 80 b”.

The enlarged focus icons 850 through 872 are icons in which the displayform of the corresponding enlarged icons 800 through 822 is changed.Specifically, the size of the enlarged focus icons 850 through 872themselves is enlarged compared to the size of the normal icons 800through 822 and the size of a pattern (an image in this example) drawnon an icon is also enlarged. In addition, white and black are reversedbetween the enlarged focus icons 850 through 872 and the enlarged icons800 through 822.

To simplify the drawing, the enlarged icons 800 through 822 and theenlarged focus icons 850 through 872 are expressed in monochrome, butthey may be expressed with colors. In such a case, the color may bereversed between the enlarged focus icons 850 through 872 and theenlarged icons 800 through 822. In addition, brightness of the icons maybe changed or the color itself may be changed. That is, because theenlarged focus icons 850 through 872 are only required to be morehighlighted than the normal icons 800 through 822, it should not belimited to this example.

As shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, in the enlarged menu screen 80, acharacter string is displayed on the display area 830 for describing thefunction of the selected enlarged icon 800 through 822. In the normalmenu screen 50, the character string has the same content as thecharacter string displayed on the normal icons 500 through 522 and thenormal focus icons 550 through 572 as their patterns, and the size (fontsize) is enlarged. That is, in the enlarged menu screen 80, an imagedisplayed on an icon is enlarged and its character string is alsoenlarged.

Therefore, data regarding character strings corresponding to each of theenlarged icons 800 through 822 (enlarged focus icons 850 through 872)are stored.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are illustrations of exemplary schematic diagramsshowing a case in which a certain character string displayed in adisplay area of the enlarged menu screen shown in FIG. 9 is drawn withtext, and a case in which the character string is drawn with an image.Although data of a character string is related to text (text data), thedata of the character string may be stored as image data. For example,as shown in FIG. 12A, when a character string (AABBCCIIJJKKMMN)corresponding to the enlarged icon 816 is drawn on the display area 830as text, some of the characters (i.e., “N”) may extend beyond thedisplay area 830. If a character string is longer than the display area830, the character string is shown in its entirety to the user byscrolling the character string, or the like, but the character stringcannot be understood in a single glance. Therefore, in the embodimentshown in FIG. 12B, if the character string is longer, a character stringcreated by an image (image of the character string) will be drawn on thedisplay area 830. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 12B, any characterswith a shorter width (i.e., “I”) can be drawn tightly, and therefore,all characters can be placed within the display area 830. Therefore, thecharacter string can be understood in a single glance without scrolling.The characters may be, for example but without limitation, hiragana,katakana, numbers, alphabet and the like.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an exemplary drawing table of the enlargedfocus icons according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In theenlarged-focus icon-drawing table 90, the drawing position (Xm, Ym)(m=20, 21, . . . , 31), enlarged focus icon information, and characterstring information are described in correspondence to the identificationnumber of the currently selected enlarged icon 800 through 822. Thedrawing position (Xm, Ym) and the enlarged focus icon information arethe same as the above-mentioned drawing position (Xn, Yn) and the normalfocus icon information described in the normal-focus icon-drawing table70. Therefore common features, functions, and elements may not beredundantly described here.

The character string information is data regarding addresses of the ROM16 (Adrp) (p=50, 51, . . . , 61) in which character string data (textdata or image data) displayed (drawn) on the display area 830 are storedin correspondence to the selected enlarged icon (800 through 822).

Similar to the normal-focus icon-drawing table 70, n shows theidentification information of the enlarged icons 800 through 822. Asdescribed above, because the array of the normal icons 500 through 522is the same as the array of the enlarged icons 800 through 822, thefocus management table 60 is used for both. In addition, in theenlarged-focus icon-drawing table 90, similar to the identificationnumber “n” of the enlarged icons 800 through 822, m (m=20 through 31) isadded for identifying the drawing positions (X, Y) of the enlarged focusicons 850 through 872, the addresses of the ROM 16 (Adr) in which eachitem of image data is stored, and their horizontal length (W) andlongitudinal length (H). Similarly, p (p=50 through 61) is added toidentify the addresses of the ROM 16 (Adr) in which character stringdata corresponding to each of the enlarged icons 800 (enlarged focusicons 850 through 872) is stored.

For example, when the user issues an instruction for displaying a menuin a state in which the enlarged size is set, the enlarged menu screen80 is displayed on the LCD monitor 30 in a state in which the enlargedicon 808 with the identification number “4” is focused as shown in FIG.9A. However, when the enlarged menu screen 80 is displayed first, thenormal icon 808 with the identification number “4” is selected due tothe default settings. Therefore, the image data that is described in theaddress (Adr24) described in the information of the enlarged focus iconis read out from the ROM 16 and attached on the background image 80 a atthe drawing position (X24, Y24) described in correspondence to theidentification number “4” for the enlarged icon 808 that is currentlyselected in the enlarged-focus icon-drawing table 90. However, the imagedata of the enlarged background image 80 a is read earlier than theimage data of the enlarged focus icon 808 and is already drawn on adrawing area of the RAM 14 (not shown). In addition, the characterstring data that is described in the address of character stringinformation (Adr54) described in response to the identification number“4” of the enlarged focus icon 808 that is currently selected in theenlarged-focus icon-drawing table 90 is read out and attached on thedisplay area 830 of the background image 80 a.

When the user operates the upward key 20 f, the leftward key 20 g, thedownward key 20 h, or the rightward key 20 i, the enlarged icon (800through 822) to be selected is changed in accordance with the focusmanagement table 60. As described above, the focus management table 60is commonly used. Then, the enlarged focus icon (850 through 872) isdisplayed (changed) in accordance with the enlarged-focus icon-drawingtable 90. That is, the enlarged menu screen 80 is updated. Then, forexample, the user operates the center key 20 e, a screen (not shown) forsetting or editing the functions corresponding to the currently selectedenlarged icon (800 through 822) is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 9B, the enlarged focus icons 868, 870, 870 in thebottom are displayed on the display area 830 so that they are notoverlapped.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of an exemplary memory map 300 of a ROM 16shown in FIG. 1. The ROM 16 comprises a program storage area 302 and adata storage area 302. An information-processing program for the mobilephone 10 is stored in the program storage area 302, and comprises a mainprocessing program 310, an image generation program 312, an imagedisplay program 314, a display size-switching program 316, and agrid-menu display control program 318.

The main processing program 310 processes program code for operating themobile phone 10. The image generation program 312 generates variousimages displayed (output) on the LCD monitor 30 using polygon data ortexture data (not shown), normal background image data 330, enlargedbackground image data 332, normal focus image data 334, enlarged focusimage data 336, character string image data 338 b, and the like, asdescribed below. The image display program 314 displays an imagegenerated in accordance with the image generation program 312 on the LCDmonitor 30 via the LCD driver 22.

The display size-switching program 316 switches (selecting) betweennormal size and enlarged size in accordance with the operations of theuser. The grid-menu display control controls the normal menu screen 50and enlarged menu screen 80.

The information-processing program may also comprise other programs. Forexample, programs for carrying out various functions such as adictionary function, a clock/calendar function, an electronic calculatorfunction, a program for outputting sounds (music) such as an incomingcall tone required for the mobile phone 10, or the like.

The normal background image data 330, the enlarged background image data332, the normal focus image data 334, the enlarged focus image data 336,character string data 338, focus management table data 340, normal-focusicon-drawing table data 342, and enlarged-focus icon-drawing table data344 are stored in the data storage area 304.

The normal background image data 330 is image data for the normalbackground image 50 a as shown in FIG. 4A. The enlarged background imagedata 332 is image data for the enlarged background image 80 a as shownin FIG. 10A. The focus image data 334 is image data of the normal focusimage 50 b shown in FIG. 5, or in other words, image data regarding eachof the normal focus icons 550 through 572. The enlarged focus image data336 is image data of the enlarged focus image 80 b shown in FIG. 11, orin other words, image data regarding each of the enlarged focus icons850 through 872.

The character string data 338 comprises character strings correspondingto each of the enlarged icons 800 through 822 and comprises text data338 a and the character string image data 338 b. The focus-managementtable data 340 comprises data for focus management table 60 shown inFIG. 6. The normal-focus icon-drawing table data 342 comprises data forthe normal-focus icon-drawing table 70 shown in FIG. 8. In addition, theenlarged-focus icon-drawing table data 344 comprises data forenlarged-focus icon-drawing table 90 shown in FIG. 13. The data mayfurther comprise, for example but without limitation, polygon data,texture data, sound data, or the like, stored in the data storage area304.

FIG. 15 is an illustration of an exemplary memory map 400 of a RAM 14shown in FIG. 1 when an enlarged size is selected. Memory map 400comprises a program storage area 402 and a data storage area 404. Theprogram storage area 402 is the same as the program storage area 400 ofthe ROM 16, therefore common features, functions, and elements may notbe redundantly described here.

For example, an information-processing program stored in the ROM 16 isloaded into the RAM 14 in its entirety at one time or partially andsequentially if necessary.

The data storage area 404 is provided with an enlarged flag 430. Inaddition, enlarged-focus icon-drawing table data 432, focus managementtable data 434, and selected-icon identification data 436 are stored inthe data storage area 404.

The enlarged flag 430 determines whether the enlarged size is selected(set) and comprises a one-bit register. When the enlarged flag 430 isturned on (established), a data value “1” is set to the register, whilewhen the enlarged register 430 is turned off (not established), a datavalue “0” is set to the register. However, when the enlarged size is setby the user, the enlarged 430 is turned on, while when the normal sizeis set, the enlarged flag 430 is turned off. FIG. 15 shows a case inwhich the enlarged flag 430 is on. If the normal size is set as thedefault, the enlarged flag 430 is off.

The enlarged-focus icon-drawing table data 432 and the focus-managementtable data 434 are the same as the data stored in the memory map 300 ofthe ROM 16, therefore common features, functions, and elements may notbe redundantly described here.

In FIG. 15, because the enlarged flag 430 is on, the enlarged-focusicon-drawing table data 344 is loaded from the ROM 16. Therefore, whenthe enlarged flag 430 is off and the normal size is selected, thenormal-focus icon-drawing table data 342 will be loaded. However,because the focus management table 60 is used for both the normal sizeand the enlarged size, the focus management table data 340 is loadedfrom the ROM 16 regardless of whether the enlarged flag 430 is on oroff.

The selected-icon identification data 436 is data (numeric data) thatexpresses the identification number of the currently selected icon(here, the enlarged icon (800 through 822)). Therefore, when theselected icon is changed, the selected-icon identification data 436 isupdated as well. Other data for executing the information processingprogram, such as for example but without limitation, counter (timer),other flags and the like, may be stored in the data storage area 404.

FIGS. 16 to 19 are illustrations of various parts of an exemplary flowdiagram showing a grid-menu display-control process 1600 that can beperformed by the CPU 12 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.The various tasks performed in connection with the process 1600 may beperformed by software, hardware, firmware, a computer-readable mediumhaving computer executable instructions for performing the processmethod, or any combination thereof. The process 1600 may be recorded ina computer-readable medium such as a semiconductor memory, a magneticdisk, an optical disk, and the like, and can be accessed and executed,for example, by a computer CPU such as the CPU 12 in which thecomputer-readable medium is stored. It should be appreciated thatprocess 1600 may include any number of additional or alternative tasks,the tasks shown in FIGS. 16 to 18 need not be performed in theillustrated order, and process 1600 may be incorporated into a morecomprehensive procedure or process having additional functionality notdescribed in detail herein. For illustrative purposes, the followingdescription of process 1600 may refer to elements mentioned above inconnection with FIGS. 1-15. In practical embodiments, portions ofprocess 1600 may be performed by different elements of the mobile phone10 for example the CPU 12, the RAM 14, the ROM 16, the flash memory 18,the key input device 20, the LCD driver 22, the A/D converter 24, theD/A converter 26, the wireless communication module 28, the clockcircuit 38 of the mobile phone 10, etc. The process 1600 may havefunctions, material, and structures that are similar to the embodimentsshown in FIGS. 1-15. Therefore common features, functions, and elementsmay not be redundantly described here.

The CPU 12 initiates the process 1600 in response to an instruction forma user for displaying a menu. The process 1600 may then proceed by theCPU 12 reading the focus management table 60 (task S1). In this manner,the CPU 12 reads the focus-management table data 340 from the ROM 16 andwrites the focus management table data 340 into the data storage area404 of the RAM 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, default data ofthe identification number “4” is set to the selected-icon identificationdata 436, before or after the task S1 is executed.

The process 1600 may then continue by the determining whether theenlarged flag 430 is turned on (inquiry task S3).

The enlarged flag 430 is either turned on or off in accordance with theuser input. If it is determined that the enlarged flag 430 is on (“YES”branch of inquiry task S3), then it is determined that the enlarged sizeis selected and the process 1600 proceeds to task S23 in FIG. 18.Otherwise, if it is determined that the enlarged flag 430 is off (“NO”branch of inquiry task S3) it is determined that the normal size isselected.

Process 1600 may then read the normal-focus icon-drawing table 70 (taskS5). In this manner, the CPU 12 reads the normal-focus icon-drawingtable data 334 from the ROM 16 and writes it into the data storage area404 of the RAM 14.

Process 1600 may then read the normal background image data 330 from theROM 16 (task S7).

Process 1600 may then draw the normal background image 50 a in a drawingarea (not shown) of the RAM 14 (task S9).

Process 1600 may then read the image data of the normal focus icon (thenormal focus icon 558) corresponding to the normal icon (the normal icon508) that is selected as a default (task S11). For example, the CPU 12refers to the normal-focus icon-drawing table 70 and reads the imagedata of the normal focus icon 558 from the ROM 16 in accordance with anaddress (i.e., Adr4) acquired by reference.

Process 1600 may then continue by drawing a normal focus icon (taskS13). In this manner, the CPU 12 draws (attaches) the read image data ofthe normal focus icon 558 on the normal background image 50 a so thatthe upper left corner of the normal focus icon 558 is positioned at thecoordinate position (X4, Y4) indicated by the normal-focus icon-drawingtable 70 by using the origin O of the normal background image 50 apreviously drawn in the drawing area of the RAM 14.

Process 1600 may then continue by determining whether a cursor key isactivated (inquiry task S15). In this manner, the CPU 12 determineswhether the upward key 20 f, the leftward key 20 g, the downward key 20h, or the rightward key 20 i is activated. If it is determined that nocursor key was activated (“NO” branch of inquiry task S15), the process1600 returns to the inquiry task S15. Otherwise, if it is determinedthat a cursor key was activated (“YES” branch of inquiry task S15), theprocess 1600 changes the normal icon (500 through 522) that is selectedin response to the key activation (task S17). In this manner, the normalicon (500 through 522) that is focused and displayed is changed.Specifically, the CPU 12 acquires the identification number “n” of thechanged icon (500 through 522) in accordance with the focus managementtable 60. The selected-icon identification data 436 is then updated withthe acquired data of the identification number “n”.

Process 1600 may then continue by reading, the image data of the normalfocus icon (500 through 522) corresponding to the changed normal icon(500 through 522) (task S19). In this manner, the CPU 12 accesses thenormal-focus icon-drawing table 70 and reads the image data from the ROM16 in accordance with the address (Adrn) described in response to theidentification number “n” acquired in task S17.

Process 1600 may then continue by drawing, the normal focus icon (550through 572) (task S21). In this manner, the CPU 12 draws the data readout in the task S19 on the normal background image 50 a in accordancewith a coordinate position (Xn, Yn) acquired from the normal-focusicon-drawing table 70. However, although it is not shown in thedrawings, before the process of step S21 is executed, the image data ofthe previously drawn normal focus icon (550 through 572) is deleted. Theprocess 1600 then returns to the task S15.

As described above, if the enlarged flag 430 is on and the determinationis “YES” in step S3, the enlarged-focus icon-drawing table 90 is readout in the inquiry step S23. In this manner, the CPU 12 reads theenlarged-focus icon-drawing table data 344 from the ROM 16 and writesthe enlarged-focus icon-drawing table data 344 into the data storagearea 404 of the RAM 14.

Process 1600 may then continue, by reading the enlarged background imagedata 332 from the ROM 16 (task S25).

Process 1600 may then continue by drawing the enlarged background image80 a (task S27). In this manner, the enlarged background image data 332is drawn in the drawing area of the RAM 14.

Process 1600 may then continue by reading the image data of the enlargedfocus icon (i.e., enlarged focus icon 858) corresponding to the enlargedicon (here, the enlarged icon 808) that is selected as a default is readout (task S29).

Process 1600 may then continue by drawing an enlarged focus icon. Inthis manner, the CPU 12 accesses the enlarged-focus icon-drawing table90, reads the image data from the ROM 16 in accordance with the address(Adr24) of the enlarged focus icon (858) described in response to theidentification number “4” set as a default, and the image data is drawnon the background image 80 a that is already drawn in accordance withthe drawing position (X24, Y24) described in response to theidentification number “4” also set as a default.

Process 1600 may then continue by reading character string datacorresponding to the enlarged icon that is selected as a default (taskS33).

Process 1600 may then continue by drawing a character string (task S35).In this manner, the CPU 12 accesses the enlarged-focus icon-drawingtable 90, reads out the character string data 338 (text data 338 a orcharacter string image data 338 b) from the ROM 16 in accordance withthe address (Adr54) of the character information described in responseto the identification number “4” set as a default, and the characterstring data is drawn in the display area 830 of the enlarged backgroundimage 80 a that has already been drawn.

Process 1600 may then continue by determining whether a cursor key isactivated (inquiry task S37). If it is determined that no cursor key isactivated (“NO” branch of the inquiry task 37), the process 1600 returnsto the task S37. However, if it is determined that a cursor key isactivated (“YES” branch of the inquiry task 37), the enlarged icon (800through 822) selected in accordance with the key operations is changed(task S39).

Process 1600 may then continue by reading the image data of the enlargedfocus icon (850 through 872) corresponding to the changed enlarged icon(800 through 822).

Process 1600 may then continue by drawing the enlarged focus icon (850through 872) (task S43). In this manner, the CPU 12 accesses theenlarged-focus icon-drawing table 90, reads the image data from the ROM16 in accordance with the address (Adrm) of the enlarged focus icon 858described in response to the changed identification number “n”, and theimage data is drawn on the enlarged background image 80 a that isalready drawn in accordance with the drawing positions (Xm, Ym)described in response to the identification number “n” also set as adefault. However, before the changed enlarged focus icon (850 through872) is drawn in step S43, the already drawn enlarged focus icon (850through 872) is deleted.

Process 1600 may then continue by reading the character string datacorresponding to the changed enlarged icon (task S45).

Process 1600 may then continue by drawing the character string. In thismanner, the CPU 12 accesses the enlarged-focus icon-drawing table 90,reads the character string data 338 (text data 338 a or character stringimage data 338 b) from the ROM 16 in accordance with the address (Adrp)of the character information described in response to the changedidentification number “n”, and the character string data is drawn in thedisplay area 830 of the enlarged background image 80 a that has alreadybeen drawn. However, before the character string corresponding to thechanged enlarged focus icon (850 through 872) is drawn in task S47, thepreviously drawn character string is deleted. Process 1600 may thenreturn to task S37.

The display process of the normal menu screen 50 and the enlarged menuscreen 80 is executed in the CPU 12, and when there is an instructionfor executing a menu (e.g., the center key 20 e is activated) in the CPU12, the function that is set to the item (normal icon (500 through 522)or enlarged icon (800 through 822)) selected at that time is executed.

According an embodiment, because an image and a character stingrepresenting the content of each function are displayed by changingtheir size in response to a selection by the user, the content can beunderstood in a single glance based on the image and the characterstring even if the size is changed.

In an embodiment, an image is described as the pattern of a normal focusicon and a character string is drawn on the normal focus icon.

Specifically, in the normal focus image 50 b shown in FIG. 5, thecharacter string is deleted from each of normal focus icons 550 through572. In addition, character string data (text data or character stringimage data) is stored in the ROM 16 in correspondence to the normalfocus icon. Furthermore, in the normal-focus icon-drawing table 70,character string information is added in a manner similar to theenlarged-focus icon-drawing table 90 shown in FIG. 13. The storagelocation (address) of the character string data corresponding to thenormal focus icons 550 through 572 is described.

This embodiment enables the drawing of a character string on a normalfocus icon. Information regarding positions (character-string drawingpositions) for drawing the character string (character string data) isfurther described. For the character-string drawing position, a leftward(X) and a downward (Y) distance based on the origin O of the normalbackground image 50 a may be set, or a lateral (X) and downward (Y)distance relative to a reference point (for example, the upper top left)of the corresponding normal icon (550 through 572) may be set.

If the size of a character string drawn with character string data canbe changed (enlarged or reduced), the character string data may be usedfor both the normal size and the enlarged size.

FIGS. 20-21 are illustration of an exemplary flow diagram showingvarious parts of a grid-menu display-control process 2000 that can beperformed by the CPU 12 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.The various tasks performed in connection with the process 2000 may beperformed by software, hardware, firmware, a computer-readable mediumhaving computer executable instructions for performing the processmethod, or any combination thereof. The process 2000 may be recorded ina computer-readable medium such as a semiconductor memory, a magneticdisk, an optical disk, and the like, and can be accessed and executed,for example, by a computer CPU such as the CPU 12 in which thecomputer-readable medium is stored. It should be appreciated thatprocess 2000 may include any number of additional or alternative tasks,the tasks shown in FIGS. 20 to 21 need not be performed in theillustrated order, and process 2000 may be incorporated into a morecomprehensive procedure or process having additional functionality notdescribed in detail herein. For illustrative purposes, the followingdescription of process 2000 may refer to elements mentioned above inconnection with FIGS. 1-19. In practical embodiments, portions ofprocess 2000 may be performed by different elements of the mobile phone10 for example the CPU 12, the RAM 14, the ROM 16, the flash memory 18,the key input device 20, the LCD driver 22, the A/D converter 24, theD/A converter 26, the wireless communication circuit 28, the clockmodule 38 of the mobile phone 10, etc. The process 2000 may havefunctions, material, and structures that are similar to the embodimentsshown in FIGS. 1-19. Therefore common features, functions, and elementsmay not be redundantly described here.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 20-21 process 2000 performs tasks S101,S103, S105, and S107 in addition to tasks S1 through S21 performed inthe process 1600. Therefore, common features, functions, and elements ofprocess 1600 may not be redundantly described herein. As described abovein the context of discussion of process 1600, the normal backgroundimage 50 a and the normal focus icon corresponding to the normal icon(500 through 522) that is selected as a default are drawn by theprocesses of tasks S1 through S13. However, a pattern comprising animage is described in the normal focus icon that is drawn by tasksS1-S13.

Process 2000 may continue by reading character string data correspondingto the normal icon (500 through 522) that is selected as a default (taskS101), and then drawn the character string is (task S103). In thismanner, the CPU 12 accesses the normal-focus icon-drawing table of theother embodiment, acquires an address from the character informationdescribed corresponding to the identification number (“4”) that isselected as a default, and reads character string data from the ROM 16in accordance with the address. In addition, the CPU 12 draws theread-out character string data on the normal focus icon in accordancewith the character-string drawing position described in correspondenceto the identification number “4” of the normal-focus icon-drawing tableof the other embodiments.

Process 2000 may continue by reading a key operation (“YES” branch ofthe task S15) and the normal icon (500 through 522) to be selected ischanged. The normal focus icon corresponding to the changed normal icon(500 through 522) is drawn on the normal background image 50 a throughthe processes of the tasks S17 through S21 as mentioned above.

Process 2000 may then continue by reading character string datacorresponding to the changed normal icon (500 through 522) (task S105).

Process 2000 may then continue by drawing the character string (taskS107). In this manner, the CPU 12 accesses to the normal-focusicon-drawing table 70, acquires the address from character informationdescribed is correspondence to the changed identification number “n”,and reads out character string data from the ROM 16 in accordance withthe address. In addition, the CPU 12 draws the read-out character stringdata on the normal focus icon in accordance with the character-stringdrawing position described corresponding to the identification number“n” of the normal-focus icon-drawing table 70. Process 2000 may thenleads back to task S15.

In an embodiment, because an image and a character are displayed bychanging their size, the content can also be understood in a singleglance (i.e., if the display size of an image and a character string ischanged, it is only necessary to be able to understand the content in asingle glance in a limited display area).

As described above, because both the size of a character string and thesize of a corresponding image are changed when the display size ischanged, content can be understood in a single glance.

In this document, the terms “computer program product”,“computer-readable medium”, and the like may be used generally to referto media such as, for example, memory, storage devices, or storage unit.These and other forms of computer-readable media may be involved instoring one or more instructions for use by the CPU 12 to cause the CPU12 to perform specified operations. Such instructions, generallyreferred to as “computer program code” or “program code” (which may begrouped in the form of computer programs or other groupings), whenexecuted, enable a grid-menu display-control method of the mobile phone10.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations hereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as mean “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectivessuch as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” andterms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the itemdescribed to a given time period or to an item available as of a giventime, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional,normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now orat any time in the future. Likewise, a group of items linked with theconjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and everyone of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be readas “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group ofitems linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiringmutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as“and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although items,elements or components of the present disclosure may be described orclaimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within thescope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated.The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The term“about” when referring to a numerical value or range is intended toencompass values resulting from experimental error that can occur whentaking measurements.

1. An electronic device comprising: a storage module operable to storean image and a character string representing content of a predetermineditem; a size selection module operable to select a selected size from atleast a first size and a second size; a display control module operableto: set a display pattern to a first pattern comprising the image at afirst image size and the character string at a first character stringsize if the selected size is the first size; and set the display patternto a second pattern comprising the image at a second image size and thecharacter string at a second character string size if the selected sizeis the second size, the second image size larger than the first imagesize and the second character string size larger than the firstcharacter string size; and a display operable to display the displaypattern, the second pattern displayed with the image on a first displayarea of the display and the character string displayed on a seconddisplay area of the display different from the first display area if theselected size is the second size.
 2. The electronic device according toclaim 1, further comprising: an item selection module operable to selecta selected predetermined item from a plurality of predetermined items inresponse to an activation of the electronic device by a user; and ahighlight control module operable to highlight the selectedpredetermined item.
 3. The electronic device according to claim 2,wherein the display control module is further operable to set thedisplay pattern to a pattern comprising the character string at thesecond size for the selected predetermined item.
 4. The electronicdevice according claim 2, wherein the display control module is furtheroperable to set the display pattern to a pattern comprising an alignmentsequence on the display of the image at the second size corresponding toan alignment sequence on the display of the image at the first size. 5.The electronic device according claim 1, wherein the image at the secondimage size has a second aspect ratio substantially equal to a firstaspect ratio of the image at the first size.
 6. The electronic deviceaccording claim 1, wherein the image at the second image size has asecond aspect ratio different from a first aspect ratio of the image atthe first size.
 7. A method for operating an electronic device, themethod comprising: providing a first pattern comprising an image at afirst image size and a character string at a first character stringsize; providing a second pattern comprising the image at a second imagesize and the character string at a second character string size, thecharacter string not overlapping the image at the second image size, andthe second image size larger than the first image size and the secondcharacter string size larger than the first character string size;receiving a size selection for a display item; displaying the firstpattern, if the size selection is a first size; and displaying thesecond pattern, if the size selection is a second size.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 7, further comprising: receiving a display itemselection in response to an activation of the electronic device by auser; and highlighting an icon if the display item selection indicatesthe icon.
 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprisingdisplaying the character string at the second character string size. 10.The method according claim 8, further comprising displaying an alignmentsequence on the display of the image with the second size correspondingto an alignment sequence on the display of the image with the firstsize.
 11. The method according claim 7, wherein the image at the secondimage size has a second aspect ratio substantially equal to a firstaspect ratio of the image at the first size.
 12. The method accordingclaim 7, wherein the image at the second image size has a second aspectratio different from a first aspect ratio of the image at the firstsize.
 13. The method according claim 7, further comprising accessingfocus-management table data, normal-focus icon-drawing table data, andenlarged-focus icon-drawing table data.
 14. A computer readable mediumcomprising program code for operating an electronic device, the programcode comprising: providing a first pattern comprising an image at afirst image size and a character string at a first character stringsize; providing a second pattern comprising the image at a second imagesize and the character string at a second character string size, thecharacter string not overlapping the image at the second image size, andthe second image size larger than the first image size and the secondcharacter string size larger than the first character string size;receiving a size selection for a display item; displaying the firstpattern, if the size selection is a first size; and displaying thesecond pattern, if the size selection is a second size.
 15. The computerreadable medium according to claim 14, further comprising program codefor: receiving a display item selection in response to an activation ofthe electronic device by a user; and highlighting an icon, if thedisplay item selection indicates the icon.
 16. The computer readablemedium according to claim 15, further comprising program code fordisplaying the character string at the second character string size. 17.The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprisingprogram code for displaying an alignment sequence on the display of theimage with the second size corresponding to an alignment sequence on thedisplay of the image with the first size.
 18. The computer readablemedium according to claim 14, wherein the image at the second image sizehas a second aspect ratio substantially equal to a first aspect ratio ofthe image at the first size.
 19. The computer readable medium accordingto claim 14, wherein the image at the second image size has a secondaspect ratio different from a first aspect ratio of the image at thefirst size.
 20. The computer readable medium according to claim 13,further comprising program code for accessing focus management tabledata, normal-focus icon-drawing table data, and enlarged-focusicon-drawing table data.